Written by Laura Lindow (who also worked on Open Clasp’s superb Key Change production), her reimagining of the sci-fi classic relocates The War Of The Worlds to 1898 Newcastle; a backdrop tantalisingly familiar to audiences, yet distanced by its Victorian setting. It follows a group of survivors in the North East following a Martian invasion of Earth, and their struggle against these unknown invaders.

Elayce Ismail, who directs the show, points out that relocating this story to Newcastle provides “a brilliant opportunity to reveal the secrets of this area and delve into its rich and evocative past.” With what’s bound to be a suitably out of this world sound design by Mariam Rezaei (Old Police House Collective), the production promises to be dynamic and highly engaging.

The show also marks the debut of a new element to Northern Stage’s NORTH Actor Training Programme, which enables four emerging actors from the North East to perform, produce and tour a production in 2018.